Tucson
Oct 23-Nov 7, 2002

We departed Arcata on the 23rd, with plans to spend 4-5 days traveling to Tucson, 7-8 days in Tucson, and 4-5 days back.

We spent the first night at Happy Time RV park in Dunnigan, an easy in-out park good for overnights on I-5. $20 full hookups. 		map
We've been thinking about, at some point, trading the Sahara up to a newer model, so we've been window-shopping, both online and at various RV dealers. At Paul Evert's RV Country in Fresno we saw this unusual 2002 Zanzibar 3946. The Zanzibar in 2002 was standard with 330HP Cat 3126E and Allison 3000 transmission, but for a short time there was an option for a 455HP Cat C-12 with Allison 4000. This is the only one we've seen and there probably aren't many. They tried to entice us with a very good price, but we declined to jump at it. It was an interesting idea, anyway. Zanzibar 455
Thursday night we spent at Don's Sister's place in Bakersfield, parked curbside. Had a good visit, and got back on the road midday Friday. We took 58 to 4-corners and down 395/I-15 to San Bernardino, then across to Indio.
Friday night was spent at Bob's RV in Indio, another good park to overnight in except in December, January and February, although the area is expensive so full hookups run $30. We stayed here on our return from Phoenix in May, also. Bob's RV Roundup
Holly in the Colorado River A regular stop for us now when we take I-10 is a county park at the Colorado River on the California side, where there is a good place for Holly to swim.

Beaudry RV Resort Our destination was the Beaudry RV Resort in Tucson, for a rally with the owners of 60 other Safari coaches. Saturday night and Sunday there was a lot of rain, so we mainly lazed around in our coach. Watched the Angels beat the Giants :(

Monday before the rally began we visited the International Wildlife Museum, which has a large collection of fauna ranging from butterflies to Polar Bears, all obtained from other collections, mostly old ones. Many of the exhibits are hands-on. International Wildlife Museum, Tucson International Wildlife Museum, Tucson
International Wildlife Museum, Tucson International Wildlife Museum, Tucson
International Wildlife Museum, Tucson International Wildlife Museum, Tucson
International Wildlife Museum, Tucson
The rally began with a happy hour gathering, and continued with a buffet dinner in the Resort's Cholla Cafe. After dinner we were regaled with an hour-long concert by El Mariachi Tapatio Southwest Safari Rally, Tucson, Oct 2002 Southwest Safari Rally, Tucson, Oct 2002 Southwest Safari Rally, Tucson, Oct 2002
Southwest Safari Rally, Tucson, Oct 2002 Southwest Safari Rally, Tucson, Oct 2002 Southwest Safari Rally, Tucson, Oct 2002
Southwest Safari Rally, Tucson, Oct 2002 Southwest Safari Rally, Tucson, Oct 2002 Southwest Safari Rally, Tucson, Oct 2002
Southwest Safari Rally, Tucson, Oct 2002 Southwest Safari Rally, Tucson, Oct 2002 Southwest Safari Rally, Tucson, Oct 2002

Tuesday started with a buffet breakfast, with seminars and classes throughout the day. In the evening we crossed the street to the LaMesa dealership, where they provided a barbecue dinner. Southwest Safari Rally, Tucson, Oct 2002 Southwest Safari Rally, Tucson, Oct 2002 Southwest Safari Rally, Tucson, Oct 2002
Southwest Safari Rally, Tucson, Oct 2002 Southwest Safari Rally, Tucson, Oct 2002 Southwest Safari Rally, Tucson, Oct 2002
Southwest Safari Rally, Tucson, Oct 2002 Southwest Safari Rally, Tucson, Oct 2002 Southwest Safari Rally, Tucson, Oct 2002
Southwest Safari Rally, Tucson, Oct 2002 Southwest Safari Rally, Tucson, Oct 2002 Southwest Safari Rally, Tucson, Oct 2002

Wednesday had more classes and forums, punctuated with a sub-sandwich lunch and an ice cream social. Beaudry, although not a Safari dealer, brought out a recently traded-in 2000 Serengetti for our perusal. Southwest Safari Rally, Tucson, Oct 2002 Southwest Safari Rally, Tucson, Oct 2002 Southwest Safari Rally, Tucson, Oct 2002
Southwest Safari Rally, Tucson, Oct 2002 Southwest Safari Rally, Tucson, Oct 2002 Southwest Safari Rally, Tucson, Oct 2002
Southwest Safari Rally, Tucson, Oct 2002 Southwest Safari Rally, Tucson, Oct 2002 Southwest Safari Rally, Tucson, Oct 2002
Southwest Safari Rally, Tucson, Oct 2002 Southwest Safari Rally, Tucson, Oct 2002 Southwest Safari Rally, Tucson, Oct 2002

Thursday began with a potluck breakfast, and ended with a final happy hour and a steak dinner, complete with musical entertainment, some tellers of tall tales. and door prizes. In between, Joy and I visited the Tucson zoo, where the big cats were out in the cooling fall weather. Southwest Safari Rally, Tucson, Oct 2002 Sunbear, Tucson Zoo Zebra, Tucson Zoo
Tortoise, Tucson Zoo Lioness, Tucson Zoo River Otters, Tucson Zoo
Macaws, Tucson Zoo Black Leopard, Tucson Zoo Indochinese Tigers, Tucson Zoo
Indochinese Tigers, Tucson Zoo Indochinese Tigers, Tucson Zoo Southwest Safari Rally, Tucson, Oct 2002
Southwest Safari Rally, Tucson, Oct 2002 Southwest Safari Rally, Tucson, Oct 2002

Friday there was a final breakfast, after which the majority of the folks attending the rally headed out. We puttered around all day and looked forward to having nothing to get up early for on Saturday! Southwest Safari Rally, Tucson, Oct 2002 Southwest Safari Rally, Tucson, Oct 2002 Southwest Safari Rally, Tucson, Oct 2002
Southwest Safari Rally, Tucson, Oct 2002 Southwest Safari Rally, Tucson, Oct 2002

Saturday we visited the mission San Xavier del Bac, south of Tucson. This is still an operational church, founded in 1692. Mission San Xavier del Bac Mission San Xavier del Bac Mission San Xavier del Bac
Mission San Xavier del Bac Mission San Xavier del Bac

Sunday we crossed back into California, gaining an hour when we did so. Because Arizona does not have Daylight Savings Time, we did not have a time change the previous weekend. Crossing at Yuma we found another spot for Holly to take a Colorado River swim, below the old territorial prison. We spent the night at Rio Bend RV west of El Centro. Nobody around when we pulled in, with about 90% of the spaces empty, so we picked a pull-through and spent the night. In the morning we were told that we had chosen a "no pets" area - turns out that pets are allowed in only a handful of their 200+ spaces. Oh well, unlikely to visit again. Holly swimming in the Colorado River at Yuma Rio Bend RV, El Centro, CA
Monday we stayed at Escondido RV Resort. Escondido RV Resort, Escondido, CA
Tuesday we spent at the San Diego Wild Animal Park. San Diego Wild Animal Park San Diego Wild Animal Park San Diego Wild Animal Park San Diego Wild Animal Park
San Diego Wild Animal Park San Diego Wild Animal Park San Diego Wild Animal Park San Diego Wild Animal Park
San Diego Wild Animal Park San Diego Wild Animal Park

Tuesday night we again spent at Don's sister's place in Bakersfield, and agin Wednesday night in Dunnigan. Stopped once more at Paul Evert RV in Fresno, and this time test-drove a 2003 Safari Sahara. Very nice, but we found that they are not making the floorplan we would prefer this year, so any thoughts of moving up are put off for at least a few months.

The trip home Thursday was in driving wind and rain, so it wasn't all that pleasant. Made us wish for Tucson weather again! CopyrightComments? Send mail to donb@arcatapet.net
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